Innovation is of two types -Shaykh Fawzaan

The shaykh mentions this point of benefit in his explanation of “Sharhus Sunnah” under the 110th point:

Bid’ah: Is something that has no evidence from the Qur’an and Sunnah, and the person who does it thinks he is coming closer to Allah with (these) acts of worship.

Bid’ah can be:

1. Asliyah أصلية

It is innovated from its origin and has no basis whatsoever in the religion.

2. Idafiyah اضافية

This is when the origin of the deed is legislated however it is connected to something that is not legislated.

(An example) is singling out a specific time for Dhikr without evidence for the specification. (It also includes) singling out a type of dhikr, attaching an amount to recite, or fasting without an evidence.

All bid’ah, whether it is Idafiyah or Asliyah, has no good in it. It brings people further way from Allah, and the one who does this resembles the Christians who invented monasticism. Allah said:

رَهۡبَانِيَّةً ٱبۡتَدَعُوهَا مَا كَتَبۡنَـٰهَا عَلَيۡهِمۡ

“But the Monasticism which they invented for themselves, We did not prescribe for them” (Suratul Hadid: 27)

The monasticism was an invention. Allah did not legislate that for them, but they did this in order to get close to Allah.

إِلَّا ٱبۡتِغَآءَ رِضۡوَٲنِ ٱللَّهِ

“but (they sought it) only to please Allah therewith”

Their intention was to seek Allah’s pleasure, but it was not legislated by Allah so it was not accepted. For this the Prophet (peace be upon him) said,

مَنْ أَحْدَثَ فِي أَمْرِنَا هَذَا مَا لَيْسَ مِنْهُ فَهُوَ رَدٌّ

“He who innovates something in this matter of ours [i.e., Islam] that is not of it will have it rejected [by Allah].”[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Meaning: returned back to him and not accepted. The person who invents a new matter will become tired, misguided, and not be rewarded for his deed. We ask Allah for His safety.